Even if you love your job, you may sometimes feel dissatisfied and/or unmotivated at work. But there is a simple solution, suggests a new study conducted in Germany.
According to researchers at Harvard University, reducing screen time by just one hour a day may boost not only your motivation in the workplace but also your well-being. German Center for Mental Health And the Centre for Mental Health Research and Treatment at Ruhr-University BochumThe results were published last week in the journal Acta Psychologica.
Some employers invest heavily in their employees’ satisfaction and motivation, two critical factors for a company’s productivity, according to the lead researcher. Dr. Julia BrailovskayaHe said in press releaseShe said her team’s findings offer employers a low-cost way to improve these elements while enhancing Employee mental health Work-life balance.
The randomized controlled trial involved nearly 300 people working in different industries and workplaces across Germany. They were divided into four groups and had their behaviors changed accordingly for a week:
- Smartphone Group: Daily smartphone usage reduced by an hour
- Physical activity group: Increase daily physical activity by 30 minutes.
- Complex group: Reduce smartphone use by one hour per day and increase daily physical activity by 30 minutes.
- Monitoring group: The behavior has not changed.
More exercise + less screen time = better health
Researchers assessed participants’ health before, during, and two weeks after they made or did not make the behavioral changes. Employees in the smartphone and shared groups reported significant improvements in their mental health, work-life balance, job satisfaction, and motivation. They also reported reduced feelings of workload and symptoms of problematic smartphone use.
All participants who were asked to change their behavior in some way showed a reduction in depressive symptoms and an increased sense of control.
“Conscious and controlled reduction of non-work-related screen time, combined with more physical activity, would improve employees’ job satisfaction and mental health,” Brailovskaya said.
A major limitation of the study is that participants were all white and relatively young; the average age of any group was no older than 28. The authors noted that future studies are needed to see if the findings apply to a more representative sample of the international workforce. They said that because this study focused on non-work-related smartphone use, additional research could explore how work-related screen time affects mental health.
If you’re looking to reduce your screen time but aren’t sure how to do it, try the following: Alex Turvey, MAresearcher in Tulane University’s City, Culture, and Society Program A study of social media and internet culture, called the “integration rather than separation” tactic, can pair digital engagement with physical activity, such as walking while listening to an audiobook.
“I realize that the contrast between screen time and no-screen time is becoming increasingly blurry,” Turvey previously said. luck“It may be helpful to incorporate screen-free activities into daily routines rather than strictly separating them.”
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